What is organic food?

Food that is labeled organic must meet certain standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). These standards include rules about how crops and animals are raised.

Organic crops must be grown without manmade fertilizers. Farmers can use natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, instead. Organic farmers must use natural weed and pest control methods as much as possible. These include plant oils, soap, fungus-eating bacteria, and bugs that eat other bugs.

Organic livestock must be fed organic feed. They must be allowed to graze in organic pastures for at least part of the year. Organic animal products must be raised without added growth hormones or antibiotics.

Organic food cannot use:

• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are plants or animals whose genetic material has been altered.
• Irradiation. This means using X-rays or other types of rays to kill pests, change the way plants grow, or keep vegetables and fruits from spoiling as fast.

Organic standards also require that the food is grown or raised in a way that protects the environment and natural resources.

Only food that meets the USDA organic standards can display the USDA organic seal.

What do you need to know about organic food?

Many people have these questions about organic food.

• Is organic food safer? Foods with the organic label have less pesticide residue than most nonorganic foods. Foods grown with pesticides can have small amounts of these chemicals left on the food when it gets to the store. There is not enough evidence to know if the small amount on nonorganic foods can be harmful.
• Is it more nutritious? There is not enough evidence to say that organic food has more nutrients than nonorganic food.
• Is it better for children? Children may be more sensitive than adults to pesticides and other chemicals because they are still growing. But there is not enough evidence to say that organic food is better for children than nonorganic foods.

How can you reduce exposure to chemicals?

Food grown with pesticides can have small amounts of pesticide left on the food when it gets to the store. You can take these steps to reduce pesticide residue.

• Wash raw fruits and vegetables before you eat them. Wash them under running water. Use a scrub brush, and then rinse the food.
• Peel vegetables such as carrots, and peel fruits such as apples. Peeling will remove pesticides that are on the peel. But it also removes fiber, vitamins, and minerals found in the skins.
• Throw away the outer leaves of head lettuce and cabbage.